A flexible cystoscopy usually takes about 5 minutes. They may squeeze some local anaesthetic jelly into your urethra to help prevent infection and reduce discomfort. Your doctor will pass the cystoscope into your urethra.
Does it hurt? You may have a short, sharp pain as the injection of anaesthetic is given, but you will not have any pain or discomfort during the procedure because you'll be asleep or your lower half will be numbed.
Cystoscopy may be done in a testing room, using a local anesthetic jelly to numb your urethra. Or it may be done as an outpatient procedure, with sedation. Another option is to have cystoscopy in the hospital during general anesthesia. The type of cystoscopy you'll have depends on the reason for your procedure.
After a rigid cystoscopy: rest at home for a day or two – you may need to take a couple of days off work.
Results: The most painful part of the procedure was as the cystoscope passed through the membranous urethra with a median pain score of 2.82. The initial lidocaine administration gives a median pain score of 0.84.
Slight discomfort (burning with urination) can sometimes occur. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) 325 mg, one to two tablets every 6 hours, or ibuprofen (e.g. Advil) 200 mg, one to two tablets every 6 hours should relieve the pain. A prescription for an antibiotic may be given to you.
You may feel burning when you urinate (pee) for the next 2 to 3 days. Your urine may also look pink. This can happen if there's a small amount of blood in it. You may see small pieces of tissue in your urine if you had a fulguration (ful-guh-RAY-shun) during your cystoscopy.
Bit by bit, increase the amount you walk. Walking boosts blood flow and helps prevent pneumonia and constipation. Avoid strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, until your doctor says it is okay. Ask your doctor when you can drive again.
With practice, you can learn to calm the mind and center yourself while the procedure is being performed. Some find breathing exercises tremendously helpful. Some listen to music or focus their attention on watching the monitor. Then there are others who come up with creative ways to distract themselves.
During a cystoscopy, a urinary tract specialist (urologist) uses a scope to view the inside of the bladder and urethra. Doctors use cystoscopy to diagnose and treat urinary tract problems. These problems include bladder cancer, bladder control issues, enlarged prostates and urinary tract infections.
This can be a sign that your urethra (the tube that carries pee out of the body) or your prostate (a small gland found in men) is swollen. Contact a GP for advice if you're unable to empty your bladder after a cystoscopy. A thin tube called a catheter may need to be temporarily placed in your bladder to help you pee.
Cystoscopy is a procedure that lets the healthcare provider view the urinary tract, particularly the bladder, the urethra, and the openings to the ureters. Cystoscopy can help find problems with the urinary tract. This may include early signs of cancer, infection, narrowing, blockage, or bleeding.
Cystoscopy compliance was 79.8% at 3 months and 54.4% at 12 months. Anatomic success rates were higher at 3 vs 12 months for EPA repairs (97.2% [106 of 109] vs 85.5% [65 of 76; P = . 003] but not buccal repairs (85.5% [53 of 62] vs 77.5% [31 of 40]; P = . 30).
Preparation for Cystoscopy
There is no need to come in with a full bladder. We will ask you to empty the bladder prior to the procedure. You may eat before your visit. Please take your regularly scheduled medications for the day, with the exception of aspirin or aspirin-based medications.
Cystoscopy is a surgical procedure. This is done to see the inside of the bladder and urethra using a thin, lighted tube.
You can go back to eating and drinking what you normally would right away. For the next 3 to 5 days: drink about 6 to 8 glasses of water a day.
Practice guidelines recommend that antibiotics be given before outpatient cystoscopy to prevent symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI).
The flexible cystoscope can also be used to remove a ureteric stent, if you have had one put in previously. The examination is performed in the Endoscopy Unit and only takes 5-10 minutes. You should not need to be at the hospital for more than an hour.
Cystoscopy recovery
After a rigid cystoscopy, you will normally go home the same day once you've emptied your bladder and the anaesthetic has worn off. You'll be advised to take a couple of days off work to rest. You can return to your usual activities including work, exercise and having sex when you feel up to them.
The recommended antibiotic prophylaxis includes a single dose of either a fluoroquinolone or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Alternatively, an aminoglycoside (with or without ampicillin), a first- or second-generation cephalosporin, or amoxicillin-clavulanate may be administered.
Care after a cystoscopy
You might feel tired and sick after a cystoscopy. You might feel some pain in your groin.
Men reported significantly higher pain levels than women 2.6 ± 1.5 vs. 2.4 ± 1.4 (P < 0.04). The highest mean pain level was reported by men (3.4 ± 1.6) and women (2.5 ± 1.6) for rigid cystoscopy compared to flexible cystoscopy (2.5 ± 1.4 and 1.1 ± 1.9, respectively, P < 0.001).
Though a cystoscopy might feel embarrassing, it is a valuable procedure as it allows a urologist to find potential issues earlier, rather than later.
Objective: At cystoscopy red patches of urothelium are commonly seen within the bladder and frequently biopsied in order to exclude carcinoma in situ (CIS), which classically presents as a red, velvety patch.